KHAMOSH PAANI DRAWS THUNDERING APPLAUSE
By Pankaj Shukla
Critic's I-view
So what if the Musharraf formula is unacceptable in Delhi and Islamabad is yet to decide about the release of Indian films on Pak soil? India has once again welcomed Pakistanis with open arms and Bollywood has embraced the first-ever Pakistani film 'Khamosh Paani' released today across the country. Although, because of lack of enough prints, the film is restricted only to a few screenings in eight cities across the country, the film was being eagerly awaited by the film fraternity in India.
'Khamosh Paani' is also a bridge between Indian and Pakistani cinema as the lead role of the film is played by none other than the emotive Kirron Kher and is directed by Saniha Sumar. The film not only fetched Kirron Kher the 'Best Actress' award at the Cape Town World Cinema Festival, but she also won the 'Best Actress' award at the Locarno film festival in Switzerland. 'Khamosh Paani' is a Pakistani-French-German production and is set in Pakistan. The film is a comment on the regressive status of women in 1979 under General Zia Ul-Haq's martial rule. The film also deals with Islamisation in Pakistan and the social fallout of fundamentalism in that country. Not only has Kirron Kher been benefited by the film, but also the director has drawn immense respect. The film has been adjudged the best directorial effort in film circuits. The movie has scenes of Sikh pilgrimage site 'Panja Sahib' which will move many-a hearts in India as well.
'Abla jeevan hai tumhari yehi kahani, Aanchal mein hai dudh aur aankhon mein paani', said famous Indian Poet Jai Shankar Prasad, long ago. These lines seem to breathe with life when we see Kirron Kher portraying the role of Ayesha in this film. The story is set in a silent village known as Charkhi. Being a widow, Ayesha has no great purpose in life. She is calm and content with whatever she has got from life. She passes most of her time giving lessons of Quran to neighborhood children. The grey years of life are associated to her in the form of his son Saleem (Aamir Malik). He is a good for nothing guy who will do nothing constructive to get ahead in life.
He has any neither any vision nor any ambition in life. His best time pass is to be in the proximity of the girl next door Zubeida. But, unlike him, Zubeida does not want to kill time. She wants to go to college and fill some colors in her life. But just at that juncture current politics overtakes everybody's lives in the country and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is hanged. And, it is at this point of time that the audience realizes the exact year in which the movie is set - 1979 when General Zia Ul Haq rose to conquer his own nation. Islamic fundamentalism is on the upsurge and in between are strings and memories of Partition cleverly interwoven with the ongoing events.
The success of 'Khamosh Pani' lies in two facts. One, that there are not too many films released in India which have been set in Pakistan and have looked at this historical era so closely. Second, that this is a true and honest attempt to look at history without bias. There is no rhetoric when Saniha says that emergency has been declared in Pakistan, no overacting by actors, no melodrama, just simple shots and their apt transition into one another. Also, Kirron Kher's performance is being adjudged as "stunning". The thoughtful lady has given a performance that will mesmerize many. Saniha too is seen to have done well at such a young age. Her approach reflects what young people on both sides of the LOC think. She has shown filmmakers a way that can lead to some good cinema in the future. Saniha is from a breed and generation that sees love as its biggest weapon to win over enemies.
On the acting front, the film is literally carried on the shoulders of Ms Kher. She is the real Ayesha of bygone Pakistan. Look at the emotions Kirron carries on her face when the news comes about Bhutto having been hanged. Kirron has won many accolades in the past by doing films like 'Devdas', 'Veer Zaara' and others, but 'Khamosh Paani' is a milestone that will challenge even Kirron Kher to better it.
A good film not only to watch but also to calm your quest for good cinema !
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